FRICK ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER

LOCATION Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

PROJECT TYPE Environmental Center

CLIENT Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy

TOTAL AREA 35 Acres

PROJECT BUDGET $8.0 Million

AWARDS 2019 ASLA Award of Excellence

The Frick Environmental Center (FEC) is a state-of-the-art environmental facility for education and research for the City of Pittsburgh. Located within Frick Park in the City’s East End, the new facility replaced the original center, which was destroyed by fire in 2000. The design of the FEC meets the Living Building Challenge and features photo-voltaic power, wetlands to cleanse and treat stormwater, native landscape restoration, interpretive rainwater installations, and outdoor classrooms. In May of 2018, after more than a year of testing and documentation, the project was officially granted Living Building certification, the world’s most rigorous performance standard by the International Living Future Institute.

The Environmental Center is on the northern edge of Frick Woods, an original gift of land from Henry Clay Frick to the City for use as a park. It is adjacent to the historic Beechwood Boulevard entrance, which was reinterpreted to include meadows, permeable pavement, tree lines, and a restored water feature.